My dear Huxley

I have just finished with very great interest “Man’s Place”.² I never fail to admire the clearness & condensed vigour of your style,—as one calls it, but really of your thought.— I have no criticisms; nor is it likely that I could have. But I think you could have added some interesting matter on the character or disposition of the young Ourangs which have been kept in France & England. I sh^d. have thought you might have enlarged a little on the later embryological changes in man & on his rudimentary structure—tail as compared with tail of higher monkeys intermaxillary bone, false ribs & I daresay other points—such as muscles of ears &c &c.—

I was very much struck with admiration at the opening pages of Part II (& oh what a delicious sneer, as good as a dessert, at p. 106.):³ but my admiration is unbounded at p. 109 to 112.⁴ I declare I never in my life read anything grander. Bacon himself could not have charged a few paragraphs with more condensed & cutting sense than you have done.⁵ It is truly grand. I regret extremely that you could not, or did not, end your book (not that I mean to say a word against the Geolog. Hist.) with those pages. With a Book, as with a fine day, one likes it to end with a glorious sunset.—

I congratulate you on its publication; but do not be disappointed if it does not sell largely; parts are highly scientific, & I have often remarked that the best book often do not get soon appreciated; certainly large sale is no proof of the highest merit.— But I hope it may be widely distributed & I am rejoiced to see in your note to Miss Rhadamanthus that a second thousand is called for of the little Book.—⁶

What a letter that is of Owen’s in the Athenæum;⁷ how cleverly he will utterly muddle & confound the public.— Indeed he quite muddled me, till I read again your “concise statement”⁸ (which is capitally clear) & then I saw that my suspicion was true that he has entirely changed his ground to size of Brain. How candid he shows himself to have taken the slipped brain!⁹ I am intensely curious to see whether Lyell will answer. Lyell has been, I fear, rather rash to enter on subject on which he of course knows nothing by himself.

By Heavens Owen will shake himself, when he sees what an antagonist he has made for himself in you.—

with hearty admiration   Farewell | C. Darwin

I am fearfully disappointed at Lyells excessive caution in expressing any judgment on Species or origin of man.—